Filling apparatus for storage batteries



March 5, 1935. F. HERMANNS 1,993,006

FILLI NG APPARATUS FOR STORAGE BATTERIES Filed Oct. 10, 1932 l INVENTOR. 4/ 250 5/777/7/7/75 RNEYS.

Patented Mar. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FILLING APPARATUS m s BATTERIES.

TORAGE 7 2 Claims.

This invention relates to filling apparatus for storage batteries, and its object is to provide an assembly of vent plugs of novel form and construction in which check valves automatically close the intake ducts of each cell in sequence, when the filling liquid reaches a specific height and causes the flowing liquid to pass on to the next cell in the series.

Another feature of the invention is a float element, the buoyancy of which is due to air imprisoned within its walls when the rising liquid reaches the said element and thereafter exerts a sensitive pressure against the valve seat by the gradually increasing force resulting from the pressure of the liquid against the air within the said element.

An additional feature of the invention resides in the interchangeability of the plugs, which may be made in standard sizes and adapted to fit any 20 and all batteries such as are in genral use.

Another advantage of the invention is a means for making hydrometer tests without removing the vent plugs from the cells.

The foregoing and other objects and features of the apparatus are fully set forth and described in the following specification and claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:-

Figure 1 shows a group of battery cells with the vent plugs and filling apparatus set thereon.

Figure 2 shows an enlarged perspective view of a vent plug.

Figure 3 is a top end view of the plug shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a bottom end view of the plug.

Figure 5 shows a float element.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of the plug shown in Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a sectional view of a float element resting on the surface of a filling liquid.

In this apparatus the principal elements are the vent plugs 10, such as that shown in Figure 2.

Referring now to Figures 2 and. 6, these plugs are constructed as follows:

A threaded shank 11 has a top flange l2 and gas vents 13. A duct 15 passes through a cross tube 16, which is integral with the vent plug element. This duct is open at each end. A secondary duct 17 passes from the main duct through the body of the vent plug and, when the plug is set up in a battery cell, this secondary duct opens into the said cell.

An open frame structure 18 on the plug is preferably formed of side bars 19, which have foot members 20 at their lower extremities. A float element 24 rides freely within the frame 18 and has a tip portion 21 and tapered head 22, which are adapted to enter and set in a valve seat 23 at the lower extremity of the secondary duct 1'7. A tube 26 is mounted in the head portion and permits of the insertion therethrough of a hydrometer for testing purposes. The float elements may be of any desired form, but the preferred construction is illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawing. In this view it will be seen that the element has a cylindrical body with a tapered head portion. It has side walls 28, but no bottom; it being open at 29. In service it rests on the liquid 30 and is lifted by the pressure on the imprisoned air 31. As the liquid rises, the float is forced upward against the valve seat and the pressure of contact is gradually increased until the flow of the filling liquid is completely shut off.

Now referring to Figure 1, the vent plugs 10 are shown set up in a series of battery cells 33 having the usual connections 34. A funnel 35 is attachable to a tube 36, which is in turn attached to the cross member 16 of a vent plug. A section of tube 37 connects this plug with the rest, and another connection is made at 38 with the next in series. Any number of cells may be connected in this manner.

To fill, or to replenish the cells, the liquid is poured into the funnel 35 and flows through the vent plug into the first cell. When the liquid reaches the proper height, that is, at about the line 40, the float element will shut off the duct and the liquid will be forced to flow over into the next cell, which will also be automatically cut off when properly filled. This occurs in sequence until all the cells are filled; after which the liquid will flow out of the tube 41 and thus indicate that the operation is completed.

A hydrometer 42 is shown inserted in one of the cells in Figure 1.

While the invention is shown and described in its preferred form, it is not limited narrowly to this construction in minor details, but is to be construed broadly within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. In a battery plug, a head structure comprising a top flange having a threaded shank extending downwardly therefrom, an open frame structure integral with the said shank and consisting of side bars having intervening spaces between them, foot members turned inwardly at the extremities of the said side bars, a free and unattached cylindrical float element having straight vertical sides and a top portion tapered to a central point, the said float element slidably inclosed within the said side bars and movable vertically to bring the tip of the tapered portion into closure contact with a duct in the said shank, the said float being of hollow formation and open at the bottom, said duct leading upward to a cross duct positioned above the said flange, and means at the extremities of the cross duct for the attachment'of tubular elements, and gas vents passing through the shank and opening outwardly from the aforesaid top flange.

2. In a device of the class described, a battery plug comprising a top flange, a cross element mounted thereon and a duct passing through said cross element and connected witha verticalduct passing downwardly through a threaded shank on said flange, a guide frame in extension of the said shank and open at its sides and having slidably mounted therein, a free and unattached cylindrical float element having straight vertical sides and a top portion tapered to a central point, the said float element being slidably inclosed within the guide frame and movable vertically to bring the tip of the tapered portion into closure contact with said duct insaid shank, said float being of hollow formation and open at'the bottom, and means at the extremities of the cross element duct for the attachment of tubular elements, and gas vents passing through the shank and opening outwardly from the aforesaid top FRED HERMANNS. 

